What began as a house-warming party has grown into a rural opera tradition now entering its 26th season in France.
Like many Connexion readers, we had fallen in love with a French country property and made the move across the Channel. Once the “honeymoon period” wore off, we began to reflect on the things we missed.
Opera soon came to the top of the list.
We were fortunate to be within reach of Vichy, whose Art Nouveau opera house hosts fine productions – but performances were few and far between.
In the UK, we had grown used to packing up picnics and rugs and heading to country house opera festivals each summer. That pastoral tradition, so well established in Britain, is less common in France.
This is partly because France already has around 30 opera houses in its larger cities.
But what we really wanted was something closer to home. And since we had a country house, we thought: why not start right here?
The original idea was to host a one-off house-warming performance.
But we quickly discovered a lively group of talented young singers, many trained at London’s major music schools, who were eager to explore more ambitious ideas.
Peter Bear
That first performance, given before an audience of friends and neighbours, was so warmly received that we invited the singers back the following summer. Our first informal country house opera group was born.
Ad
Since then, our network has expanded.
Each summer, we now work with five or six host venues – including châteaux, manoirs and abbeys - often owned by generous French families keen to share music not only with opera fans but with those who might never otherwise attend.
Our aim is to support emerging British singers while also bringing opera to new audiences in rural France.
Over the years, we have staged works by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini and Rossini. Many of our performers have gone on to major roles at Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, Bayreuth and English National Opera.
Peter Bear
Today, our main company is Regents Opera, which also has a season in London. The group recently received strong critical acclaim for its full staging of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
This year, Regents Opera will tour Puccini’s La Bohème in venues across Normandy, the Auvergne and Burgundy. Tickets are priced between €25 and €35.
